Sonic Speed Simulator

{{Infobox video game

| state =

| title = Sonic Speed Simulator

| image = Sonic Speed Simulator logo.png

| alt =

| caption =

| developer = Gamefam

| publisher = Gamefam

| series = Sonic the Hedgehog

| engine = Roblox

| platforms = Windows, macOS, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, iOS, Android

| released = {{Plainlist|

Beta:
April 13, 2022
Official:
April 16, 2022
PlayStation 4 & 5:
October 10, 2023

}}

| genre = MMO, incremental, platform

| director =

| programmer =

| modes = Multiplayer

}}

Sonic Speed Simulator{{efn|The in-game title was updated to become Sonic Speed Simulator: Reborn on February 10, 2023. However, this change has yet to be reflected on the game's page on the Roblox website.}} is a massively multiplayer online incremental platform game developed and published by Gamefam, under license and in association with Sega of America,{{cite web|last=Alexander|first=Christina|title=Sonic the Hedgehog's next video game is in Roblox|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sonic-the-hedgehog-roblox-game/|publisher=Digital Trends|date=April 13, 2022|access-date=May 22, 2023|archive-date=May 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522224735/https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sonic-the-hedgehog-roblox-game/}} and serves as an official entry in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise on the gaming and game development platform Roblox. The gameplay involves moving around and collecting Chaos Orbs to level up and increase speed and jumping power.

Gameplay

File:Sonic Speed Simulator screenshot.png and collecting Chaos Orbs (Windows)]]

The player walks around and collects Chaos Orbs and rings around a world (map). While walking around gives them XP, collecting Chaos Orbs gives more XP to help them level up, which then increases their speed and jumping power. The maximum XP earned per level increases with the level. Other ways to earn XP are by running and jumping through Sky Rings, completing quests and Time Trials (challenges that involve passing through spawned checkpoints and reaching the goal within a world as fast as possible), and buying from in-game shops. At any time, the player can rebirth, which resets the player's speed, power, and level, but returns Skill Points, which can be used to buy permanent upgrades.

Initially, the player's character is their Roblox avatar, but they can obtain Sonic characters to play as by completing Quests and limited-time event objectives, collecting cards,{{cite web|last=Trumann|first=Tu|title=Sonic Roblox Game Sonic Speed Simulator Adds Knuckles and New Sonic Skin In Latest Update|url=https://gamerant.com/roblox-sonic-speed-simulator-knuckles-new-sonic-skin-update/|publisher=Game Rant|date=April 24, 2022}}{{cite web|last=Webb|first=Ethan|title=Roblox Sonic Speed Simulator: How To Unlock All Characters|url=https://screenrant.com/roblox-sonic-speed-simulator-unlock-all-characters-guide/|publisher=Screen Rant|date=May 14, 2022}}{{cite web|last=Mohanty|first=Suchit|title=Here's How To Get Amy in Sonic Speed Simulator|url=https://www.dualshockers.com/heres-how-to-get-amy-in-sonic-speed-simulator/|publisher=Dual Shockers|date=May 15, 2022}} redeeming codes, and purchasing them for a limited time.

Trails and pets, which give upgradeable benefits,{{Cite web |date=2022-04-14 |title='Sonic The Hedgehog' gets a Sega-approved 'Roblox' game |url=https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/sonic-the-hedgehog-gets-a-sega-approved-roblox-game-3204822 |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}{{cite web|title=Sonic the Hedgehog is coming to a new platform: Roblox|website=Polygon|date=13 April 2022 |url=https://www.polygon.com/23016682/roblox-sonic-the-hedgehog-speed-simulator-game-chao}} are obtained through spending rings on vending machines and completing Quests, event objectives, and Time Trials. Trails and pets can be leveled up at Upgrade Machines with rings, Red Star Rings, or both, and identical ones can be fused together into "Evolved" forms.

To unlock the next world, the player must earn five Gate Keys from Quests.

History

Sonic Speed Simulator was pitched by Joe Ferencz, the CEO of Gamefam, to Ivo Gerscovich, Sega's chief brand officer for Sonic the Hedgehog. Ferencz sought to develop an official Roblox game for a major video game franchise. At the time, Sonic the Hedgehog had less popularity among younger audiences and Sega was looking for ways to raise it, such as with the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog film. Ferencz pitched with the expectation that the film would leverage Sonic{{'s}} popularity, and Gersovich took it as an opportunity to connect the Sonic brand with Roblox's young playerbase.{{cite web |last1=Sherry |first1=Ben |title=How Gamefam’s Founder Taps His Inner Child to Bring Brands to the Metaverse |url=https://www.inc.com/ben-sherry/how-gamefam-founder-taps-his-inner-child-to-bring-brands-like-sonic-the-hedgehog-to-the-metaverse/90994771 |website=Inc. |publisher=Mansueto Ventures |access-date=November 15, 2024 |date=October 25, 2024}}

The game was announced and released in closed beta on April 13, 2022, requiring 50 Robux for access to play, before being fully released as free to play three days later on April 16, 2022.{{cite web|last=Yang|first=George|title=Sonic the Hedgehog Is Getting an Official New Game Inside Roblox - IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-speed-simulator-roblox|publisher=IGN|date=April 14, 2022}} The game had 70 million plays{{cite web |last1=McCracken |first1=Harry |title=Roblox grows up |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90878692/roblox-grows-up |website=Fast Company |publisher=Fast Company, Inc |date=19 April 2023 |access-date=31 May 2023}} and 275,000 concurrent players in the first week of its release, which made its launch Roblox's largest. It went on to reach 500 million visits in its first four months. Joe Ferencz described it as "the No. 1 branded game of all time on Roblox".{{cite web |last1=Takahashi |first1=Dean |title=Gamefam sees rapid growth in making games for Roblox |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/gamefam-sees-rapid-growth-in-making-games-for-roblox/ |website=VentureBeat |date=5 December 2022 |access-date=31 May 2023}} In August 2024, Sonic Speed Simulator became the first branded game on Roblox to reach one billion visits.{{cite web |last1=Takahashi |first1=Dean |title=How Gamefam built the 1st branded Roblox game to cross 1B visits — Sonic Speed Simulator |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/how-gamefam-built-the-1st-branded-roblox-game-to-cross-1b-visits-sonic-speed-simulator/ |website=VentureBeat |access-date=October 6, 2024 |date=September 23, 2024}}

During the Sonic Central 2022 presentation shown on June 7, it was announced that a new area of Chemical Plant Zone would be released on June 11. Additionally, a code for the Amy Chao was unveiled and became available later that same day.{{cite web|last=Purslow|first=Matt|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-central-2022-every-announcement|title=Sonic Central 2022: Everything Announced Including Sonic Prime and Sonic Frontiers|publisher=IGN|date=June 7, 2022}}

On February 26, 2023, a new feature was added to the game, known as "Auto Run", where the player automatically runs around the entire map, and collects rings and XP without any control over their character. Many players expressed disappointment with this update, citing the slower pace, not being able to jump or go side-to-side, and the rewards system as downsides.{{cite web|last=Murray|first=Sean|title=Sonic Speed Simulator Adds Auto-Run And Fans Hate It|url=https://www.thegamer.com/sonic-speed-simulator-auto-run-fans-hate-it/|publisher=The Gamer|date=February 26, 2023}}

On March 11, 2023, Shadow the Hedgehog was added to the game, with players have the opportunity to unlock the character during the Release Shadow event.{{cite web|last=Tu|first=Trumann|title=Roblox Game Sonic Speed Simulator Adds Anticipated Character In Latest Update|url=https://gamerant.com/roblox-sonic-speed-simulator-shadow-the-hedgehog-update/|publisher=Game Rant|date=March 11, 2023}}

=Promotional events=

From December 10 through December 16, 2022, players could attend a special early screening of the then-upcoming first episode of the Sonic Prime television series before its initial Netflix debut. To promote the event, Gamefam, Sega, Netflix, and WildBrain Studios partnered with Roblox Corporation by allowing users the ability to earn Nine's Mechanical Arms in the form of a virtual UGC accessory.{{cite web|last=Deschamps|first=Marc|title=Sonic Prime: How to Watch Netflix's Sonic the Hedgehog Show 5 Days Early|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/sonic-prime-netflix-sonic-the-hedgehog-show-5-days-early-roblox/|publisher=ComicBook.com|date=December 6, 2022}}{{cite web|last=Behan|first=Daire|title=Sonic Prime's First Episode Will Have Early Premiere in Roblox|url=https://gamerant.com/sonic-prime-first-episode-early-premiere-roblox/|publisher=Game Rant|date=December 7, 2022}}{{cite web|last=Liang|first=Lu-Hai|title=Roblox Gets First Episode Premiere Of Netflix's Sonic Prime|url=https://www.thegamer.com/roblox-gets-first-episode-premiere-netflix-sonic-prime/|publisher=The Gamer|date=December 6, 2022}}

=Controversy=

{{Further information|Gamefam#Accusations of employee mistreatment}}

Throughout the month of December 2022, several allegations were brought up by numerous ex-employees who had worked on the game and raised concerns online in regards to Gamefam crunching and underpaying, as well as laying off some of their employees before the holiday season without much warning, which was against the contract. As a form of protest, fans began using the hashtag #SonicSweatshopSimulator on Twitter in an effort to bring attention to allegations. In response, the company began banning users from the Sonic Speed Simulator{{'}}s Discord server who mentioned the issues{{cite web|last=Bevan|first=Rhiannon|title=Sonic Speed Simulator Devs Accused Of Crunching And Underpaying Staff|url=https://www.thegamer.com/sonic-speed-simulator-roblox-crunch-underpay/|publisher=The Gamer|date=December 12, 2022}} and published a statement denying the allegations.{{cite web |last1=Coulson |first1=Josh |title=More Developers Speak Out Against Roblox Sonic Speed Simulator Developer Gamefam |url=https://www.thegamer.com/developers-speak-out-roblox-sonic-speed-simulator-developer-gamefam/ |website=TheGamer |publisher=Valnet Inc. |date=December 13, 2022 |access-date=May 31, 2023}}

Reception

Alan Wen's review on Eurogamer was positive and praised the 3D, open-world gameplay, stating that

Sonic Speed Simulator is "probably the most polished experience to have graced Roblox so far", but criticized the progression, obstacle courses, and race minigame, finding the progression to be unsatisfying and race minigame as too basic and lag-inducing.{{Cite news |last=Wen |first=Alan |date=2022-04-28 |title=Sonic Speed Simulator review - a free, good-looking Roblox game that's fast and fun in short spins |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/sonic-speed-simulator-review-a-free-good-looking-roblox-game-thats-fast-and-fun-in-short-spins |access-date=2022-05-02}}